Ripa Ladrang

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Ripa Ladrang Foundation

Rigon Tashi Choeling Monastery

New Treasures Project

Year of the Water Horse
April 1, 2002

Spring Greetings to all friends and members of Ripa Ladrang Foundation:

About a month ago we sent out a letter similar to this to all of you to bring you up-to-date on the status of H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche's new monastery project under construction in Pharping, Nepal -- Rigon Tashi Choeling -- which will be his new seat when it is completed. We are grateful for the response to the newsletter, which included several individuals sending substantial donations that will greatly assist in completing the monastery.

Just a reminder: to see the latest photos of this beautiful monastery project that all of you are helping us to build, please see the latest Photo Journal items from the January trip to Nepal. By the blessings of Guru Rinpoche and Gesar, and the generosity of so many of Rinpoche's students and friends, we have been able to raise enough money to date to get to this point where the main monastery building is almost structurally complete. But the journey is not over, and we cannot waiver.

THE EXCITING NEWS, as a followup from the last mailing, is that as a result of the information sent out, we received $25,000 in new pledges and donations!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! This means so much in being able to finish the top level of the monastery structure, the fourth floor area where the statue of the Long Life Buddha will reside. One person generously sponsored the Vajrakilaya Statue and another pledged to sponsor the new Guru Rinpoche statue, both to be housed in the Temple of Gesar, and the balance of these new pledges and donations came in various sizes--$10, $20, $100, $200 and more. No donation is too small and no donation is too large. Every penny donated to the New Treasures Sponsorship Fund goes towards the New Treasures project.

So remember, please, everything adds up! Sending in every size of donation is helpful and appreciated.

Rinpoche Needs your Help

We all understand that this sacred project of the Terton still needs a great deal of support and financing in order to reach completion. There is much work yet to be done: the monk hostel, classrooms and kitchen; the landscaping and boundary wall; and all of the final design including the custom painting, furnishings, roof. We still need your help. And we now ask for your donations, your pledges, your continued generosity during this year 2002.

When considering donations, the following are some additional ways to give that allow the Terton, lamas and monks associated with the Ripa lineage to say a large "thank you" for all of your generosity.

Thangkas

One excellent way to support the New Treasures project is to purchase one of the many magnificent thangkas Ripa Ladrang has acquired from His Eminence's personal thangka painter - award winning artist Cho Tshering. These are the finest thangkas on the market, containing the power of transmission of Rinpoche's termas, with luxurious brocades. All purchase monies over cost of the thangka go directly to the New Treasures project. These include various Gesar, Yeshe Tsogyal, Chenrezig, Guru Rinpoche and one extremely large Buddha Shakyamuni. Please contact ripa_ladrang@hotmail.com for more details.

Wealth Pujas - How to Benefit Yourself and the New Monastery

Sponsoring a wealth puja – whether for an organization, a company, for a loved one or yourself personally – can be a great way to gain a sense of how spirituality becomes active in daily life. Wealth is a reflection of energy and intent, and can enable you to help yourself and others both spiritually and materially. The pujas help establish a healthy cycle of compassion between those involved in the spiritual vocation (His Eminence, the lamas and monks) and laypeople involved in living and working in the world.

The Terton conducts Wealth Pujas out of a sense of compassion and purity, and one’s intent behind requesting a puja should mirror that of the Terton. The following categories are designed to take into consideration all levels of need and resources.

Dharmakaya – appropriate for a large enterprise or organization, and can be arranged specially for your organization. You should call to make arrangements for the amount of the donation involved.

Sambhogakaya – appropriate for a large business (50-250 employees). Requested donation: $5000.00

Nirmanakaya – appropriate for a smaller business (less than 50 employees). Requested donation: $2500.00

Bodhisattva – appropriate for one’s personal career and related prosperity. Requested donation: $1500.00

Monk – appropriate for one’s personal prosperity. Requested donation: $750.00

Initiate – appropriate for financial assistance in a specific situation. Requested donation: $450.00

Wealth pujas are a blessing that can in turn help you and the organizations you’re associated with reflect spiritual, emotional, and material well-being. We urge you to make a donation and experience first hand the power of such a commitment.

For everyone who participates in this opportunity, the WEALTH PUJAS will be done this summer (June or July) at His Eminence's monastery in India. And the monastery has agreed to perform these magical wealth ceremonies with no donation to them, with all wealth puja donations going to the New Treasures project.

Ripa Ladrang Foundation can now also accept Visa or Mastercard for these puja donations as well.

Other Specific Items Available for Donor Sponsorship

When giving you can also specify a specific item to be associated with the donation. The following items are available for sponsorship if you wish to assist in that manner. Keep in mind, however, that general donations are always needed and welcome to complete all of the construction (for example, the monk hostel, classrooms and kitchen alone will cost over $500,000!). And if you wish to donate anything towards the Temple of Gesar, that would be appreciated as well.

Computer classroom - 2 rooms	$10,000.00 or $5,000 ea.
PC Computer for Monk Study (need 2)	$1,500 ea.
Printer for Computer (need 2)	$350 ea.
Copier Machine	$750
Donations for Gilding of the Roofs	$75,000 total
Gesar Temple, statue Vajrakilaya	Now Sponsored
Gesar Temple, statue Guru Rinpoche	Now Sponsored
Gesar Temple, statue of Gesar	Already Sponsored
Gesar Temple, 30 ministers, small	$300 ea.
Gesar Temple, Primary Minister	$2,000
Tara Library: Tara Statue	$1,500
Tara Library: 21 small Taras	$250 ea.
Tara Library: Library overall	$20,000 ($12,000 already sponsored)
Special Item: Red Coral and Turquoise (fine quality for statue trim and other trim)	Either donate the gems or total of $3,000
Religious Items / Ritual Objects	$15,000 or any donation towards this amount
Vehicles: Vehicle 1 - Mahindra pickup truck	$37,500 (vehicles very costly in Nepal)
Vehicles: Vehicle 2 - Mitsubishi Pajero	$37,500
Monks Rooms: Bed & Bedding (need 100)	$200 ea.
Monks Rooms: Bookcases (need 100)	$50 ea.
Monks Rooms: Monk Shelves (need 100)	$35 ea.
Retreat - Retreat Hut (lifetime use by donor)	$20,000 ea.
Boundary Wall - Entire Wall or portions of it	$33,000
Solar Water Heater	$7,300
Gesar Temple - General Furnishings, Monk Cushions, etc.	$7,500
Gesar Temple - 1 monk cushion	$15
Gesar Temple - 1 monk prayer bench/table	$30
Pillars: The monastery as designed by the Terton has 8 Primary Pillars. These pillars support the entire structure. 4 Pillars are sponsored (4 available)	$2,500 ea.
Lama Room - Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche's room	$4,000
Lama Room - Lhunpo Tulku Rinpoche's room	$4,000

As always, we thank you for your generous support so far. With all of the events in the world, it’s important for us to give to something that will help establish peace and stability. For this reason alone we urge you to get involved, make a commitment, and see the results both in your own well-being, the well-being of others, and the manifestation of a beautiful monastery that will last for centuries to come.

Ripa Ladrang Foundation has created the "New Treasures Sponsorship Fund" with a goal of $2.75 Million Dollars to fulfill the Terton's vision. Ripa Ladrang Foundation will be very grateful for any donations if individuals or corporations are able to support this most noble undertaking. This is a very special project and will require the support of everyone who possibly can assist in bringing it to fruition. The address for the Foundation is 333 Mamaroneck Avenue, #203, White Plains, New York 10605 (fundraising phone 212-502-1171). H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche has said that "in this degenerate age on earth, the karmic merit for building one monastery is equal to building ten monasteries in more luminous times!"

If you wish to make a pledge to be sent during 2002, please email the following text filled in with your information to ripaladrang@hotmail.com (Please note that we now accept Visa or Mastercard credit cards for donations.) If you wish to sponsor one particular item described above, please note it below. If you wish to simply donate to the project with no item designation, that is fine also. We are very grateful to receive any donation and no donation is too small or too large. Please help if you can.

"I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A DONATION PLEDGE FOR THE NEW TREASURES PROJECT IN NEPAL, TO HELP FULFILL THE VISION OF H.E. NAMKHA DRIMED RINPOCHE.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY PLEDGE FOR THIS YEAR OF THE WATER HORSE 2002 IN THE AMOUNT OF $_________________. I WILL PAY BY (CHECK / CREDIT CARD / MONEY ORDER) BY DATE _____________. " [ NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, EMAIL ]

Thank you every so much. May all beings benefit from merit of your many kindnesses.

Ripa Ladrang Foundation is an approved 501(c)3 tax exempt religious organization. Federal Tax ID No. 91-1942035